Vacuum cleaner switch



Feb. 15, 1955 J. FERRARIS 2,702,325

VACUUM CLEANER SWITCH Filed May 21, 1955 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F INVENTORJomv 7.7592005 A ORNEY Feb. 15, 1955 J. T. FERRARIS, 2,702,325

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United States Patent VACUUM CLEANER SWITCH John T. Ferraris, Cos Cob,Conn., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Conn., acorporation of Delaware Application May 21, 1953, Serial No. 356,413

Claims. (Cl. 200-50) This invention relates to an improved vacuumcleaner switch and especially to automatic operating means for actuatingand locking it in deenergizing position under predetermined conditions.

More particularly, it embraces a novel combination of elements forinsuring the retention of an established connectlon which isautomatically broken upon the opening of the cover or some similarlyactuated structure during the conventional operation of a householdvacuum cleaner.

Heretofore, a number of switching devices have been designed for manualor automatic operation. Still others have been attached to various partsof the body of the cleaner, each however, with certain specific objectsin view. All of these switching mechanisms have been found subject tomany seemingly unavoidable shortcomings and in particular, none havebeen found adequate for effecting the objects and purposes of thisinvention.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved type ofswitch which may readily be operated either manually or by a mere flickof the operators foot.

It is a further prime object of this invention to provide a switch whichis responsive to the release of the vacuum cleaner cover to beautomatically actuated to its oit position.

Another object is to provide a switching mechanism which, upon theattainment of a predetermined operating condition within the cleaner, islocked into its deenergizing position.

Still another object is to require the operator to replace a certainobject, such as to insert a new dust collecting bag, and to reset theswitch in order to effect a more eflicient cleaning operation.

Still other and further objects will become apparent upon reading thefollowing description together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tank type vacuum cleaner with aportion of its outer casing broken away and its top trim assembly insection to show an assembled view of one embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the switch and switch receptacle inposition on a cleaner with its top trim assembly broken away to show thedetails of the switch structure more clearly;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational view with a portion showing theswitch in section and locked in off position, the cover being open; theclosed position of the cover is shown in broken lines;

Figure 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the switch assembly of Fig. 3with the top trim assembly removed, showing the cover in openedposition;

Figure 5 is a larger detailed sectional view taken on the line 5--5 ofFig. 4 with the cover closed and the switch in on position;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the switch assembly taken on the line 66of Fig. 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the switch and its insulating housingas devised for this particular embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the cover actuated element or yoke ofthe switch assembly;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the switch bracket on which theelement of Fig. 8 is slidably mounted; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the insulator and spring member whichpress the switch unit shown in Fig. 7 into engagement with its actuatingrocker casing.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment 2,702,325 PatentedFeb. 15, 1955 shown in the accompanying drawings, ahousing 10 of aconventional tank-type vacuum cleaner has suitably secured thereto apair of runners 12 which support the cleaner in a substantiallyhorizontal position. One end of housing 10 forms a dust containercompartment opening in a substantially vertical plane and provided witha closure member 16. This closure member 16 comprises a portion 18pivotally mounted at 19 to pneumatically seal a front cover ring 22, andwhen opened, cover 16 extends anteriorly from the housing 10. A hoseconnector element 24 is pivotally carried by the portion 18 of closuremember 16 and is adapted to orient the hose connector 24 in paralleledposition throughout its traveled are.

A top trim assembly or trim piece 26 is appropriately secured to theupper portion of housing 10 and upon removal (see Fig. 2) shows thedetailed structure of the switch assembly 30.

Switch assembly 30 is adapted to fit into switch pocket 50, Fig. 5,which is pressed out of housing 10, or preferably as shown, it is aseparate piece press fitted and spot welded into a cut-out portion ofhousing 10. v

A spring 90, surmounted by a switch bottom insulator 92 presses switch60, Fig. 1, up into its nylon switch case 62 while the latter is heldsecurely in place along its edges 62a and 62b which fit snugly under andagainst elitending lips a and 70b (see Fig. 9) of switch bracket Yoke ismounted on and around switch bracket 70 so that the under side ofprojections 80a and 80b ride on their respective rail members 700 and70d, respectively, on each side of switch bracket 70. Springs 82, 84attached at one end to lugs 86 and 88, respectively, of yoke 80 and atthe other end to lugs 76 and 78, respectively, of switch bracket 70serve to hold the yoke and switch bracket together in mounted assembly.

After yoke 80 is thus assembled on switch bracket 70 spring bias 90,Fig. 10, and switch bottom insulator 92 are placed into switch pocket50. Then nylon switch case 62, Fig. 7, together with its encased toggleswitch, having rocker arm 64 protruding as shown in Fig. 7, is insertedthrough the center opening of switch bracket 70 and yoke 80, theassembly being securely fixed in position by the insertion of lugs 70e,70; under the top lip of front ring 22 (see Fig. 5) while rear wing 72is fastened to the housing 10 by retaining means 74.

Rocker 31 is then readily slipped into place by closing cover 16whereupon lugs 17a and 17b press against depending ears 87a and 87b ofyoke 80 causing yoke 80 to slide back along rail members 70c and 70d. Inthis position, the depending sides of rocker 31 are readily passeddownward into the center opening of switch bracket 70 and yoke 80. Underthese conditions and with rocker arm 64 pressed forward, as shown inFig. 3, slots 33a and 33b (cut in the depending sides of rocker 31) arereadily mounted on pivot pins 73a and 73b, respectively, of switchbracket 70 while cam followers 31a and 31b are simultaneously passedunder the upwardly sweeping cams 81a and 81b, respectively, of yoke 80.

A metal liner 35, Fig. 5, serves to retain and center a nylon insulatingbutton 37 which protects the unit against short-circuits and theoperator against electrical shock during switch manipulation. When thetop trim assembly 26 is secured in place by fastening means 27, theswitch assembly is complete and rocker 31 may be swung to its on or oilpositions without any possibility of disarrangement of its variousparts, the encircling edges of top assembly 26 holding the cylindricalsurface of rocker 31 securely thereunder.

In operation, with the switch in on position (see Fig. 5), the releaseof cover 16, either manually by operating latch 15, Fig. 1, or byautomatic means such as pneumatically or electrically energized devices,causes lugs 17a and 17b to release depending ears 87a and 87b of yoke 80whereupon springs 82 and 84 pull yoke 80 forward. The forward motion ofyoke 80 causes cams 81a and 31b to press cam followers, 31a and 31bdownward and forward which results in a counter-clockwise rotation ofrocker 31 on its mounting pivots 73a and 73b into its off position. Thisactuates rocker arm 64 to its forward position as shown in Fig. 3 andhence throws the a toggle switch to its circuit breaking position shownin Fig. 1 and locks cam followers 31a and 31b under the horizontal partof cams 81a and 81b respectively, see Fig. 3. Thus, with the cover inopened position, it is impossible to throw rocker 31 to its on positionunless depending ears 87a and 8712 are pressed inwards against theirbiasing spring action.

It is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention herein morespecifically described is merely illustrative and not limitative of thescope of this invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination comprising a casing having anopening, a movable cover for said opening, means for releasing saidcover, switching means to energize and deenergize said cleaner, a switchbracket fixed to said casing for mounting said switching means, a trimpiece on said casing overlying said switching means and formed with anaperture, a manually operable rocker pivotally mounted on said switchbracket and extending through said aperture to actuate said switchingmeans to energize and deenergize said cleaner, a resiliently operableyoke member slidably mounted on said switch bracket underneath andspaced from said trim piece and normally ineffective to actuate saidrocker, a cam surface on said yoke member, a projecting member on saidrocker contactable by and operatively actuatable by said cam surface,and means operatively connecting said cover and said resilientlyoperable yoke member whereby opening of said cover causes theresiliently operable yoke member to actuate said rocker to deenergizesaid cleaner, and a fiat portion on said cam surface to restrain saidprojecting member by overlying the latter and restraining said switchingmeans against a manual operation.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination comprising i a casing having anopening, a movable cover for said opening, means for releasing saidcover, a switch bracket fixed to said casing, switching means forenergizing and deenergizing said cleaner, a cut away center opening insaid switch bracket for mounting said switching means, a trim piece onsaid casing overlying said switching means and formed with an aperture,a manually operable rocker pivotally mounted on said switch bracket andextending through said aperture for actuating said switching means toenergize and deenergize said cleaner, a resiliently operable yoke membermounted for slidable movement on :said switch bracket underneath andspaced from said trim piece and normally ineffective for actuating saidrocker, a cam surface on said yoke member, a projecting member on saidrocker contactable by and operatively actuatable by said cam surface,and means operatively connecting said cover and said resilientlyoperable yoke member whereby opening said cover causes the resilientlyoperable yoke member to actuate said rocker to deenergize said cleaner,and a portion on said cam surface efiective upon further slidablemovement of said yoke member to restrain said projecting member and locksaid switching means against manual operation.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination comprising a casing having anopening, a movable cover for said opening, means for releasing saidcover, a switch bracket fixed to said casing, switching means forenergizing and deenergizing said cleaner, a cut away center opening insaid switch bracket for mounting said switching means, a manuallyoperable rocker pivotally mounted on said switch bracket for actuatingsaid switching means to energize and deenergize said cleaner, a top trimmember fixed to said casing and superposed over the rocker for holdingthe latter pivotally mounted on said bracket, a resiliently operableyoke member mounted underneath and spaced from said trim member forslidable movement on said switch bracket and normally ineffective foractuating said rocker, a cam surface on said yoke member, a projectingmember on said rocker contactable by and operatively actuatable by saidcam surface, and means operatively connecting said cover and saidresiliently operable yoke member whereby opening said cover causes theresiliently operable yoke member to actuate said rocker to deenergizesaid cleaner, and a portion on said cam surface effective upon furtherslidable movement of said yoke member to restrain said projecting memberand lock said switching means against manual operation.

4. Ina vacuum cleaner, the combination comprising a casing having anopening, a movable cover for said opening, means for releasing saidcover, a switch bracket fixed to said casing, a center opening in saidswitch bracket, an insulating switch box fitted into said centeropening, switching means within said switch box to energize anddeenergize said cleaner, a switch arm extending from said switch box tooperate said switching means, a manually operable rocker pivotallymounted on said switch bracket and adapted to actuate said switch arm toenergize and deenergize said cleaner, a top trim assembly fixed to saidcasing superposed over the rocker and having edges encircling the rocker:for holding the latter pivotally mounted on said switch bracket, aresiliently operable yoke member slidably mounted on said switch bracketand normally ineffective to actuate said rocker, a cam surface on saidyoke member, a projecting member on said rocker extending against and.actuatable by said cam surface and means operatively connecting saidcover and said resiliently operable yoke member whereby opening of saidcover causes the resiliently operable yoke member to actuate said rockerto deenergize said cleaner.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination comprising a casing having anopening, .a movable cover for said opening, means for releasing saidcover, a switch bracket fixed to said casing, a center opening in saidswitch bracket, an insulating switch box fitted into said centeropening, switching means Within said switch box to energize anddeenergize said cleaner, a spring between said casing and saidinsulating switch box for holding said box and switching means in placewithin said center opening, a switch armextending from said switch boxto operate said switching means, a manually operable rocker casingpivotally mounted on said switch bracket and adapted to actuate saidswitch arm to energize and deenergize said cleaner, a top trim assemblyfixed to said casing superposed over the rocker casing and having edgesencircling the rocker casing for holding the latter pivotally mounted onsaid switch bracket, a resiliently operable yoke member slidably mountedon said switch bracket and normally ineffective to actuate said rockercasing, a cam surface on said yoke member, a projecting member on saidrocker casing extending against and .actuatable by said cam surface andmeans operatively connecting said cover and said resiliently operableyoke member whereby opening of said cover causes the resilientlyoperable yoke niember to actuate said rocker casing to deenergize said ceaner.

McClatchie Feb. 16, 1926 Senne July 2 8, 1953

